Hyderabad/New Delhi:
Former Coal Secretary PC Parakh, who is facing CBI charges of conspiracy and corruption in coal blocks allocation, said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh must be named as a ‘conspirator’ as he was the final decision maker.
Parakh’s statement has sparked controversy with the BJP now demanding a through probe into it.
Industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla, Parakh and others have been booked for their involvement in the allocation of two coal blocks in Odisha eight years ago.
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with the decision. It was a very fair and correct decision that we took. I don't know why CBI thought that there is a conspiracy," Parakh said.
"But, if there is a conspiracy, then there are different members in this conspiracy. There is K M Birla who made the representation, he is one conspirator. I, who examined the case and made a recommendation, I can be another conspirator and the Prime Minister, who as the Coal Minister, took the final decision, is the third conspirator.
"So, if the CBI thinks there is a conspiracy, why did they choose and select Mr.Birla and me and not the PM.If conspiracy is there, then everyone is part of the conspiracy," he told television channels, adding that after Shibu Soren resigned as Coal Minister, the Prime Minister had then directly taken charge of the ministry.
